Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of glowing beauty for moms – or so they say – but the reality of carrying a baby is that a mom’s body can do some wild if not entirely uncomfortable things. One of the most annoying for many women is having a relentlessly itching belly. If you find yourself scratching your belly and feeling frustrating then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
To understand how to relieve your itchy belly, it helps to know what causes that dreaded itch to begin with. The most common reason for an itchy belly is simply that it is stretching at a very fast pace. As your belly grows and your skin stretches it may be more susceptible to drying out, which exacerbates the feeling of itchiness.
Another reason why pregnant bellies may itch could be a condition known as PUPP, which stands for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy. This is beyond just itchiness, though, and generally includes a rash and often times spreads to other parts of the body. Only your doctor can diagnose PUPP. The good news? PUPP generally appears during the third trimester and goes away after birth.
Ways to Get Some Relief For An Itchy Belly
If your itchy belly is driving you bonkers then try a few of these simple, inexpensive, and totally safe methods to ease the itch and breathe a sigh of relief.
Use a moisturizer that lasts.
Some women swear by coconut butter, other swear by aloe or vitamin E oil. Whichever you choose, make sure it is free of unnecessary dyes, fragrant, and chemicals. Slather your lotion on liberally a few times a day. Not only does it feel good to rub your belly, but you’ll help to prevent the itchiness from coming back.
Try anti-itch cream if the itch is really bad.
Be sure to use a safe over the counter option. Try spreading a thin and even layer over your belly. Remember that chalky pink calamine lotion from childhood? Yup. That stuff works wonders.
Add moisture to the air with a humidifier.
Not only is dry air terrible for your itchy belly, but it’s not fabulous hair either. A humidifier is a wonderful tool to have on hand for when your baby arrives anyway so why not start getting into to habit of running one?
Limit the number of showers or baths you’re taking.
The heat from a hot shower can zap the moisture right out of the skin. If you’ve got issues with an itchy belly, keeping your showing to a minimum combined with lots of lotion can keep your belly skin supple and happy.
But when you do take a bath, try adding oatmeal to it.
Several trusted brands on the market offer lovely bath bombs that promote healthy skin and are totally safe for an expecting mama. If you like to make your own bath additions, simply put whole oat oatmeal in a coffee grinder and grind to a powder. Make enough for one full cup and add to your bath. The oatmeal will help your skin retain moisture and even alleviate the itch.
Drink a ton of water.
I know, I know, during pregnancy, we already have to pee a hundred times a day, but water really is so important. Not only is water great for baby but it helps keeps your skin healthy and happy too, which can curb the belly itch.
Pregnancy doesn’t have to a time of inconveniences to your comfort. With a few quick, easy, and safe tricks, you can ward off the annoyance of an itchy belly and even attain that glow everyone loves to talk about.
